“Call Schiff. Call Ciaramella. And call Hunter.”
As for Ciaramella, he need not EVER be asked if he was the “whistle blower.” It is too easy to ask him about all of the background questions surrounding this incident, the answers to which will frame him as the whistle blower by virtue of the information that was already released by the Dems regarding the WB. Further, he can be specifically asked if he ever met with Schiff, and on what dates. It’ll blow the case wide open, especially when his attorney is called to the stand (yeah, him, too) - the attorney who wanted a coup to begin the moment Trump was elected. That ratphuck needs to be exposed, and an ethics complaint filed against him if there is a shred of evidence of unethical behavior.
Even the Washington Compost gave Schiff 4 Pinocchios for lying about his contacts with the WB before the WB filed his complaint. If those clowns can find out this information, so can the US Congress and its investigators.
This isn't a 6th amendment trial. Trump will only be allowed to call what the Senators negotiated as allowable to be called.
See The History Place: Presidential Impeachment Proceedings (Bill Clinton):
Excerpt:
With opinion polls showing that Clinton's job approval rating now surpassed 70 percent despite his impeachment, and with most Americans favoring a speedy conclusion of the Senate trial, Democratic senators proposed that the impeachment case against Clinton be dismissed outright for lack of merit...Three days later, the Senate voted along party lines and defeated the Democrats' motion to dismiss the charges against Clinton, then voted in favor of seeking videotaped depositions from Lewinsky, Vernon Jordan, and Sidney Blumenthal.
Democrats strongly objected to calling any witnesses, claiming they were not necessary, given the voluminous House record already available. Republicans, however, claimed the Democrats were trying to stop them from presenting a thorough case against Clinton. They originally wanted to call up to 15 witnesses.
On February 1, Monica Lewinsky was questioned by House prosecutors behind closed doors for four hours, with the procedure videotaped...
On February 4, the Senate voted 70-30 against calling Lewinsky to testify in person...
On February 8, closing arguments were presented with each side allotted a three-hour time slot...
With closing arguments completed, the Senate began three days of closed-door deliberations on the two articles of impeachment, with each senator limited to 15 minutes of speaking time…
-PJ